5 Best VPNs for Uganda in 2024

Despite recent government relaxation, Internet freedom is limited in Uganda as authorities use commercial surveillance methods to spy on citizens. Not to mention, there is a 12% tax on Internet data, which can make it unaffordable for many people. And then there’s the fear of being arrested for criticizing the president, so self-censorship is quite common. 

What’s more, the Ugandan government has blocked some social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. Luckily, you can avoid all these challenges by using a VPN for Uganda. A VPN encrypts your traffic, shields your data, and helps you bypass pesky geo-restrictions to access your favorite websites.

This article dives deep into the benefits of using a VPN and offers you a list of the 5 best VPNs for Uganda. We will also provide a detailed guide on how to use a VPN, answer some FAQs, and more.

Best VPNs for Uganda - Our Shortlist

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Uganda
2. Surfshark – Best Uganda VPN for Enhanced Privacy
3. ExpressVPN – Best VPN with a Beginner-Friendly Interface
4. CyberGhost VPN – VPN in Uganda with Streaming Optimized Servers
5. Private Internet Access – Advanced VPN That Works in Uganda

How to Use a VPN in Uganda

To use a VPN in Uganda, you need to find and subscribe to a VPN with servers near Uganda. Then you can connect to a server and start browsing the Internet safely. Follow the steps below to make things easy:

1. Subscribe to a VPN that works in Uganda (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN on your device.
3. Launch the VPN and log in using your account details.
4. Connect to a server in Uganda or any other location.
5. You can now surf the Internet with unrestricted access to your favorite sites. 

The Best VPNs for Uganda

For help selecting the best VPN for Uganda, take a look at the criteria we used to compile our take on the best VPNs with the most servers. First, a good VPN should have an extensive server network across many countries, including Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. This will allow you to unblock African sites like ShowMax, iROKOtv, and BritBox from anywhere.

The VPN you select also needs to have obfuscated servers to bypass strict VPN blocks and get access to restricted services like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more. You should also look for robust encryption and security protocols to protect your data from surveillance. 

Moreover, a kill switch and an audited no-logs policy help you avoid your data being compromised. Your VPN should also have fast and reliable connections to help you stream and download without interruptions. 

Your VPN must allow multiple simultaneous connections and support all major operating systems and devices. Plus, the service should offer responsive 24/7 live chat customer support and a money-back guarantee to help you get a hassle-free refund.

Considering all the factors above, here’s our list of the 5 best VPNs for Uganda:

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Uganda

NordVPN offers 5,800+ servers in 60 countries, including South Africa, that can help you bypass and unblock platforms like ShowMax, iROKOtv, and BritBox from anywhere in the world. Plus, you can avoid social media restrictions set by the government and access your accounts while traveling in Uganda. 

The VPN offers an obfuscation feature masking your connection from strict VPN blocking tools. You also get a no-logs policy and a kill switch to protect your data from accidental leaks if your VPN tunnel suddenly fails. The VPN even has strong encryption and multiple security protocols like NordLynx to safeguard your traffic and scramble your data. 

While this VPN for Uganda isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN, it still offers decent speeds for Web browsing, downloading, and torrenting. NordVPN also has unlimited bandwidth, so you can stream shows in 4K without facing any restrictions from your ISP in Uganda. However, connecting to distant locations can decrease your overall speeds. 

NordVPN supports all the popular operating systems and can be installed on tablets, laptops, and more. You can use the app simultaneously on 6 devices without any reliability issues. While testing the servers, we never faced any random drops. The VPN has a 24/7 live chat tool to answer your queries and has a 30-day money-back guarantee to secure your purchase.

2. Surfshark – Best Uganda VPN for Enhanced Privacy

Surfshark has a wide network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries to bypass geo-restrictions and access your favorite global platforms. There are no servers in Uganda, but you can connect to nearby countries like Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa to enjoy local African content like ShowMax, iROKOtv, and BritBox from anywhere. 

This VPN for Uganda also offers robust security features like obfuscation, AES 256-bit encryption, multiple security protocols, and a dedicated kill switch to protect your network traffic. Plus, Surfshark follows a strict no-logs policy to ensure your information isn’t stored or shared with the Ugandan authorities. So, you can post anything online without being punished for it. 

While testing Surfshark, we got impressive speeds and reliable server performance. The speeds were fast enough for interruption-free 4K streaming and just came a close second to ExpressVPN. Moreover, the servers connected in seconds and didn’t disconnect randomly.

Surfshark can be installed on laptops, smartphones, routers, TVs, and more. Plus, the app interface is beginner-friendly, and you can use it on all your devices simultaneously. You also get access to their responsive support team using the 24/7 live chat tool, and your subscription is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee for easy refunds.

3. ExpressVPN – Best VPN with a Beginner-Friendly Interface

ExpressVPN has a vast obfuscated server network with 3,000+ servers spread across 100+ countries to help you use your social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook from Uganda. It also offers you servers nearby Uganda in Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa to unblock and access services like ShowMax, iROKOtv, and BritBox from inside and outside the country.

The VPN offers strong AES 256-bit encryption and multiple security protocols, like Lightway and OpenVPN, to protect your online presence. It also comes with a kill switch feature (Network Lock) and follows a strict no-logs policy audited by Cure53 to ensure your data isn’t stored or shared with the Ugandan government.

We got the fastest speeds with ExpressVPN during our tests. It outperformed all the other VPNs and offered reliable server connections. This helped us access streaming sites and torrenting platforms with zero stability issues or slowdowns. 

ExpressVPN is easy to use and can be installed on all major smartphones, computers, game consoles, and routers. It can run on 8 devices at once with just a single subscription. The VPN also has a responsive 24/7 live chat service to answer all your queries and backs your purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. CyberGhost VPN – VPN in Uganda with Streaming Optimized Servers

CyberGhost comes with a massive number of 9,500+ servers across 90 countries. It has hundreds of servers near Uganda and covers locations like Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. This helps you bypass restrictions and access your favorite African content like ShowMax, iROKOtv, and BritBox, as well as global social media platforms. 

Unfortunately, you don’t get any obfuscated servers, but CyberGhost still allowed us to bypass VPN restrictions during our tests. This means you can use all your social media platforms and other services while in Uganda. Not to mention, you also get a kill switch to protect your data from accidental exposure. 

This VPN for Uganda offers AES 256-bit encryption, multiple security protocols, and an audited no-logs policy. This helps you stay safe and protect your sensitive information. Plus, its Smart Rules feature lets you set the VPN to automatically connect to a server and scramble your connection while using any public WiFi network.

CyberGhost has medium-fast speeds for 4K streaming, smooth browsing, and more. It didn’t disconnect once and offered reliable server performance. You can install the app on all major operating systems like Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android. Plus, it works on 7 devices at once. Lastly, it comes with 24/7 live chat support and an extended 45-day money-back policy.

5. Private Internet Access – Advanced VPN That Works in Uganda

Private Internet Access (PIA) has an extensive server network in 80+ countries with locations near Uganda. You get servers in Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa to access platforms like ShowMax, iROKOtv, and BritBox. It also obfuscates your connection with Shadowsocks to bypass strict VPN restrictions in Uganda and access your global accounts.

You can customize your VPN experience for faster performance or better security using its many settings. This lets you choose from AES 256-bit or AES 128-bit encryption and WireGuard or OpenVPN protocols. (Use the AES 256-bit and OpenVPN configuration for the best security.) Plus, PIA has a no-logs policy and a kill switch to keep your data safe.

The AES 128-bit and WireGuard combo offers you the best speeds. While testing the servers, we didn’t face any issues with the connection dropping. Plus, we could stream in 4K and download large files without hitting any data caps. That said, while the customizable settings are great for advanced users, they can get a bit complex for beginners. 

This VPN for Uganda also runs on all major devices like computers, phones, tablets, gaming consoles, routers, and more—and it supports unlimited simultaneous connections. PIA’s 24/7 live chat feature helps with any issues, and you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee for a hassle-free refund process.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Uganda?

You need a VPN for Uganda to avoid being spied on by the government and protect your sensitive data. VPNs also help you bypass restrictions set by the Ugandan authorities to access your social media accounts. Here are some more ways a VPN for Uganda can be helpful:

• Unblock Restricted Sites – Social media services, streaming sites, and other global platforms are blocked in Uganda. A VPN can let you bypass these restrictions to access apps and services without issues from anywhere.
• Avoid the Internet Tax – The Ugandan government has imposed a 12% tax for data usage, requiring residents to pay much more for their Internet access. You can bypass this extra cost by connecting to an encrypted VPN server, which will hide your data usage.
• Protect Your Private Information – Considering the harsh punishments for criticizing the Ugandan president, it’s important that your online activity is protected by a VPN for Uganda with a kill switch and a strict no-logs policy. This way, you can post anything online without facing any consequences or legal charges against you. 
• Block Ads, Trackers, and Spyware – Browsing the Internet can leave you exposed to many malicious ads and trackers. These ads are filled with phishing attacks and other malware or spyware to infect your device. So, using a VPN with an ad-blocker or a Threat Manager feature can keep you protected and avoid malicious links.
• Secure Torrenting Experience – Torrenting can leave your IP exposed and lead to data leaks. VPNs offer torrenting-capable servers and robust encryption to use your torrent clients without accidentally exposing any sensitive data. 

Final Thoughts

The issues with government surveillance and data retention laws in Uganda make Internet freedom essentially nonexistent. Plus, Internet access is unaffordable for many residents due to the hefty taxes imposed on data. A Uganda VPN can help you get around these issues and protect your online presence from the Ugandan authorities.

Our #1 recommendation is NordVPN as the top VPN for Uganda. The service has an extensive server network to bypass any restrictions and follows an audited no-logs policy, so your data won’t be stored or shared with Ugandan authorities. With NordVPN, you can post whatever you want and access any content easily.

That’s all for our take on picking a VPN for Uganda. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Thank you for reading!